Toronto Film Festival Dailies

Written and Directed by A.V. Rockwell

Synopsis:

Elizier, a new enrollee at The Edward R. Mill School For Boys, must overcome the memories of a tragic past in order to tackle larger issues dominating his young life: How must it feel to grow up in the world, under the constant implication that your life does not matter? To know that the whole world could watch you die, yet nothing would be done about it? In this poetic and lush drama, A.V. Rockwell creates an allegorical love letter to black men and a refuge for young black boys.

TRT: 19 min

Country: USA

Language: English

View trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II6amAxAXPE

ABOUT A.V. ROCKWELL

Writer, Director, Producer A.V. Rockwell is an award-winning screenwriter and director from Queens, New York. Hailed as a “rising indie filmmaker” by Entertainment Weekly, her work has been celebrated for its brutal yet poetically humanized depictions of urban life and a distinctive voice that slyly addresses issues of race, family, identity, and systematic oppression.

She was handpicked to direct “The Gospel”, a music-driven short film commissioned by singer/songwriter Alicia Keys. Presented as a visual prelude to Keys’ sixth studio album Here, it would go on to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival, be named a Top Critics’ Pick on The New York Times’ column, The Playlist and receive a Clio Music Award for Film. Rockwell has received Tribeca Film Institute and CHANEL’s Through Her Lens production grant, a John S. Guggenheim Fellowship for the Arts and she was also highlighted in the prestigious Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase. Most recently, she was awarded a Sundance Institute Feature Film Fellowship.